Alkmaar - City of cheese, culture and hidden gems

The Waagplein square is the vibrant heart of Alkmaar and home to the iconic Waagtoren building. It is a thriving hub of hospitality and the setting for the oldest and largest Cheese Market in the Netherlands. The spectacle of traditional cheese trading takes place here every Friday from the end of March to the end of September. Led by the Kaasvader (Cheese Father), the men of the Kaasdragersgilde (Cheese Carriers' Guild) have been running back and forth with wooden carriers known as ‘berries’ laden with cheeses for over 430 years. It should come as no surprise that Alkmaar is called the Cheese Capital of the Netherlands.

Known as the front garden of Alkmaar, the Land of Leeghwater is a beautiful region located to the east of the city. Cycling from Alkmaar, you travel past dikes, windmills, beautiful bulb fields and picturesque villages such as De Rijp, the cultural heart of this region. The fascinating historical character of this area invites you to go exploring, whether by bike, boat, paddleboard (SUP) or on foot. Clearly mapped routes take you along the best market stalls and farm shops such as Smit's Boer & Goed and Bram & Aagie.

It is also fun to explore Alkmaar from the water. This can be done in various ways but travelling on a SUP has the most impact. If you rent it at El Kombi Sup, that is. This 'SUP & zero waste community' organises tours, clean ups, classes and Sup it ups, an event where you fish litter out of the canals while paddleboarding. It's fun and good for the environment. If you're not keen on getting wet, rent a whisper boat from Greenjoy and just cruise around while enjoying the sights.

Overstad is Alkmaar's industrial area and can be reached on foot from the city centre across the canal. It houses over 80,000 m2 of shops specialising in housing, electronics, sports and travel. Fans of upcycling and treasure-hunting will be thrilled with the thrift boulevard where several large thrift shops are located next to each other. Active visitors can visit the indoor shopping centre, which includes Buitenwinkel Bever, for outdoor activities, the ANWB and 2 large shops with sporting goods.

Creative breeding ground Hall 25 is Alkmaar's cultural playground. In the large industrial hall with an outdoor area, people happily experiment and organise events. So far this has led to a beer garden, a city sauna, an art factory and much more. It is regarded as the best place to find inspiration, entertainment or unique surprises. It also has an important social function in the form of the 'City Lab', where questions and issues arising from local data are addressed on Saturdays. For example, they use data to look at noise pollution, neighbourhood projects and flooding, as well as missing cats and green spaces in the city.